Egyptian President el-Sisi Responds to Smotrich's Sinai Remarks

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi responded Wednesday evening to previous statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding the Sinai Peninsula. In his statement, el-Sisi emphasized: "Egypt fought a defensive war on its soil and recovered all its territory."

Reaction to Smotrich's Remarks

This was a response to Smotrich's remarks that if Cairo starts a war, Israel will take control of Sinai and not return the peninsula. The finance minister initially referred to the situation on the fronts against Hamas and Hezbollah and explained why a territorial price should be exacted in Gaza and Lebanon.

Following this, the Egyptian president wondered "whether certain circles in Israel are cultivating unfounded perceptions or fears regarding Egyptian ambitions towards them." During a military conference, el-Sisi added that "Egypt's first and last goal is to maintain its security and stability, and to preserve the resources of its people."

Regional Stability and Peace

He further noted that "Egypt has no hidden agendas, and its primary priority is the need to preserve its borders and national security within the framework of peace and stability."

The Egyptian president added that "the peace agreement signed between Egypt and Israel represents a framework for managing relations between the parties. Egypt has no ambitions towards any party."

According to him, "Egypt's adoption of the two-state solution stems from a firm vision and well-founded conviction that this path is the only realistic way to achieve a just and permanent peace in the region, and to establish a respected Palestinian state and a respected Israeli state. This is not a new proposal, but an Egyptian vision to achieve stability for generations to come."

At the time, Smotrich's remarks sparked anger in Egypt and an attack by television presenters. Subsequently, a knowledgeable Egyptian source briefed the pro-regime media in Cairo and emphasized that in Egypt "they completely reject the inclusion of Sinai in the statements of the Israeli finance minister (Bezalel Smotrich)."

The source emphasized that "Egypt is capable of defending its land and maintaining its independence." The Egyptian source also said that "Egypt will never accept the expulsion of Palestinians from their lands nor participate in it."